Installing the Server OS

OS Installation Methods

C-Series servers support several operating systems. Regardless of the OS being installed, you can install it on your server using one of the following tools:

KVM console

PXE installation server

KVM Console

The KVM console is an interface accessible from CIMC that emulates a direct keyboard, video, and mouse (KVM) connection to the server. The KVM console allows you to connect to the server from a remote location.

Instead of using CD/DVD or floppy drives physically connected to the server, the KVM console uses virtual media, which are actual disk drives or disk image files that are mapped to virtual CD/DVD or floppy drives. You can map any of the following to a virtual drive:

CD/DVD or floppy drive on your computer

Disk image files (ISO or IMG files) on your computer

USB flash drive on your computer

CD/DVD or floppy drive on the network

Disk image files (ISO or IMG files) on the network

USB flash drive on the network

You can use the KVM console to install an OS on the server.

Note

When launching the KVM Console from Internet Explorer 6 SP1 on Windows Server 2003, the browser will report that it cannot download a required file. If this occurs, click the browser Tools menu and select Internet Options. Click the Advanced tab and, in the Security section, uncheck the checkbox for "Do not save encrypted pages to disk." Launch the KVM Console again.

Click Add Image, navigate to and select the OS installation disk image, click Open to mount the disk image, and then check the Mapped check box for the mounted disk image.

Note

You must keep the VM tab open during the OS installation process. Closing the tab unmaps all virtual media.

Step 9

Reboot the server and select the virtual CD/DVD drive as the boot device.

When the server reboots, it begins the installation process from the virtual CD/DVD drive. Refer to the installation guide for the OS being installed to guide you through the rest of the installation process.

What to Do Next

After the OS installation is complete, reset the virtual media boot order to its original setting.

PXE Installation Servers

A Preboot Execution Environment (PXE) installation server allows a client to boot and install an OS from a remote location. To use this method, a PXE environment must be configured and available on your VLAN, typically a dedicated provisioning VLAN. Additionally, the server must be set to boot from the network. When the server boots, it sends a PXE request across the network. The PXE installation server acknowledges the request, and starts a sequence of events that installs the OS on the server.

PXE servers can use installation disks, disk images, or scripts to install an OS. Proprietary disk images can also be used to install an OS, additional components, or applications.

Note

PXE installation is an efficient method for installing an OS on a large number of servers. However, considering that this method requires setting up a PXE environment, it might be easier to use another installation method.

If a PXE install server is available on the VLAN, the installation process begins when the server reboots. PXE installations are typically automated and require no additional user input. Refer to the installation guide for the OS being installed to guide you through the rest of the installation process.

What to Do Next

After the OS installation is complete, reset the LAN boot order to its original setting.